Spirit Airlines Grows its Bay Area Gateway at OAK with New Service to Chicago-O’Hare

Press Releases

January 29th, 2014

Dallas-Ft. Worth Flights Also Return Year-Round; Both Start May 1

Oakland, Calif. (January 29, 2014)—Spirit Airlines has announced the continued expansion of its San Francisco Bay Area gateway at Oakland International Airport (OAK) with new, daily non-stop flights to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) beginning May 1, 2014.

“We’re delighted that Spirit continues to grow its Bay Area base with new service to one of our largest un-served destination airports and to the popular Chicago market,” said Port of Oakland Director of Aviation Deborah Ale Flint. “This new daily flight will not only introduce a convenient new option for Bay Area travelers, but it will also open opportunities for more leisure travel to our region by providing easy and affordable access to the Bay Area’s most popular attractions.”

Spirit’s new flight is scheduled to depart OAK daily at 9:10 a.m. and arrive in Chicago at 3:18 p.m. Westbound, the flight is scheduled to depart from Chicago daily at 3:20 p.m. and arrive at OAK at 5:55 p.m. This schedule provides customers with connection opportunities to Spirit’s destinations across the Americas – particularly New York’s LaGuardia Airport. Spirit’s new Chicago flight is scheduled to operate with a 178-seat Airbus A320 aircraft.

“We are pleased to add the only nonstop service from Chicago/O’Hare International Airport to the San Francisco Bay Area’s most convenient airport,” said Mark Kopczak, Spirit’s Vice President of Network Planning. “Oakland International Airport is well known by Bay Area travelers for its ease of use and reliability. We look forward to adding Oakland as Spirit’s 16th nonstop market served from Chicago/O’Hare.”

Also on May 1, Spirit will resume service between OAK and Dallas-Ft. Worth International Airport (DFW). The daily DFW flight, which began in 2013 as summer seasonal service, will now operate year-round. From OAK, Spirit’s DFW flight is scheduled to depart at 6:41 p.m. and arrive at 11:56p. Westbound, the flight is scheduled to depart DFW at 6:50 a.m. and arrive in Oakland at 8:29 a.m. Spirit will operate this route with its 145-seat Airbus A319 aircraft.

Oakland International Airport is Spirit’s only gateway in the San Francisco Bay Area. In addition to the new service announced today, the airline offers twice-daily nonstop flights between OAK and Las Vegas (LAS). Spirit, known for dramatically lowering airfares in every market it enters, provides an a-la-carte fare structure allowing passengers to pay only for the services and amenities they desire—such as a wider Big Front Seat™ with additional legroom and no middle seat at the front of the cabin.

Chicago is the Bay Area's sixth-largest origin and destination market with more than 2,200 travelers departing for the Windy City each day. O'Hare alone is the 8th most popular destination airport for Bay Area travelers. Spirit’s new service will compliment existing service between OAK and Chicago’s Midway Airport operated by Southwest.

About the Port of Oakland and Oakland International Airport:The Port of Oakland oversees the Oakland seaport, Oakland International Airport, and 20 miles of waterfront. The Oakland seaport is the fifth busiest container port in the U.S.; Oakland International Airport is the second largest San Francisco Bay Area airport offering over 300 daily passenger and cargo flights; and the Port’s real estate includes commercial developments such as Jack London Square and hundreds of acres of public parks and conservation areas. Together, through Port operations and those of its tenants and users, the Port supports more than 73,000 jobs in the region and nearly 827,000 jobs across the United States. The Port of Oakland was established in 1927 and is an independent department of the City of Oakland. Connect with the Port of Oakland and Oakland International Airport through Facebook, or with the Port on Twitter, YouTube, and at www.portofoakland.com.